Demon Knights #1
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Demon Knights #1

Writer: Paul Cornell Artist: Diogenes Neves Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: September 14, 2011 Cover Price: $2.99 Critic Reviews: 16 User Reviews: 1
8.1Critic Rating
9.0User Rating

Set in the Dark Ages of the DC Universe, a barbarian horde is massing to crush civilization. It's fallen to Madame Xanadu and Jason Blood, the man with a monster inside him, to stand in their way though the demon Etrigan has no interest in protecting anyone or anything other than himself! It'll take more than their own power to stop an army fueled by bloodlust and dark sorcery, and some very surprising heroes and villains will have no choice but to join the fray!

  • 10
    Comic Vine - Mat 'Inferiorego' Elfring Sep 14, 2011

    Super-awesome! I was extremely skeptical about this issue and series. I thought I would hate it. Luckily, I went in with an open mind, and it ended up being my favorite book of the new 52 this week. It's a great jumping on point for new readers. You're introduced to the characters and get a quick back-story. The letter actually adds a lot to the book, aside from the usual dialogue, and the art is dynamite. The only bummer was that I wanted a bit of action, and we really didn't get any. This is a book you'll want to add to your pull list, and this is coming from someone who has never really liked or understood Etrigan/Jason Blood before. I highly recommend this book. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Comic Book Nuts - Jef Mendoza Sep 17, 2011

    Diogenes Neves and Oclair Albert are drawing a beautiful book. It's a fantasy setting so there's a bit of the extravagance but it's not as over the top like in the World of Warcraft books or Frank Frazetta paintings. It sort of feels like Record of Lodoss War. I really like the facial expressions too as they remind me of what medieval warriors faces would look like when they're raging. Colors by Marcelo Maiolo are awesome as well. Read Full Review

  • 10
    ComicBuzz - johnlees Sep 28, 2011

    I just hope that, like Secret Six, Demon Knights can avoid cancellation, and is given time to build up the cult audience it is surely good enough to attract. Paul Cornell and Diogenes Neves have crafted something really special here, and if you like diversity, if youre up for trying something a bit different from the norm, give Demon Knights #1 a try. Im pretty sure you wont regret it. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Major Spoilers - Stephen Schleicher Sep 16, 2011

    When Demon Knights was first announced, I was hooked by the promise of Etrigan being front and center. After the initial announcement, I pretty much shut my mind off from news of other characters and general setup, so when I did sit down to read the issue, I was completely drawn in and had a blast with everything from beginning to end. Demon Knights #1 has a great story hook, fantastic art, a great cast of characters, and that questing adventure feel that makes this a book that can't be missed. Pick up Demon Knights #1 before it is too late. It's a fantastic read and earns 5 out of 5 Stars. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    A Comic Book Blog - Victor Kutsenok Sep 20, 2011

    Wow was this a cool issue. For me, this was the book of the week. I love the way the story reads. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    cxPulp - Waylon Wernette Sep 16, 2011

    Overall I love the idea of a medieval team of characters who have been forced to come together to face a powerful enemy. I was not the biggest fan of the book when it was first announced, but in the end the first issue succeeds in doing what most cannot. It gives you just enough to keep you coming back for more. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Comic Book Bin - Andy Frisk Sep 14, 2011

    Well also have to wait for further issues to get the characterization going storytelling wise as well. While all of the DCnU books are meant to be perfect jumping on points, Demon Knights will be much more enjoyable to those who are already familiar with the characters previous incarnations or anxious, like I was as far as Madame Xanadu was concerned, to see how they are going to be portrayed in the DCnU. Besides the fact that we didnt really need, in an all ages book, to know that Xanadu likes it roughwell, the kids didnt need to know that at leastDemon Knights looks like it has the potential to be a great read. Maybe Xanadu is fooling Etrigan instead? Who knows? I'd like the series to last long enough to find out. Read Full Review

  • 8.4
    The Fandom Post - Chris Beveridge Sep 16, 2011

    With the opening issue, Demon Knights has given me a whole lot to like. The setting is great, the general plot concept as introduced has a lot of potential and it's got a cast that I want to curl up with for ages so I can watch as their adventures unfold. DC Comics is definitely taking a chance with this book by doing fantasy, even with familiar heroes from the last couple of decades being put here, and I think this first issue does a fantastic job with it. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Outer Realm Comics - Shawn Morrissey Jan 12, 2012

    Tony Daniels provides the cover here, and he's done a top-shelf job. The detail, shading, angles, all of it looks brilliant and there's no revelation or misconception of the story inside. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    CHUD - Jeb Delia Sep 16, 2011

    The story here is pretty basic "getting the team together" stuff, but unlike some of the awkward setups the New 52 have gifted us with so far, Cornell here gives us a clean, compelling introduction to the various characters, with some nicely detailed character snapshots and some refreshingly knotty relationships, particularly the revelation of Xanadu's relationship to Etrigan, all sketched in efficiently and with snappy pacing. Getting a compelling introduction to a story and its protagonists in a first issue shouldn't be a lot to ask, but given how rare this quality seems to be at the big two these days (even, or especially, amongst this latest torrent of #1s), I can't help singling Cornell out for praise. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    IGN - Erik Norris Sep 14, 2011

    The "Dark" corner of the DCU shines once again, this time thanks to Paul Cornell and Diogenes Neves with Demon Knights #1. And if you needed one more thing to sell you on picking up this first issue: it's got angry dragons. Boom. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Weekly Comic Book Review - Minhquan Nguyen Sep 16, 2011

    Somehow, with only the barest hint of a plot to speak of, you still come out of the issue incredibly satisfied and in anticipation for the next. If you're a fantasy lover, this title will suit you most adequately. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Comic Book Resources - Greg McElhatton Sep 14, 2011

    "Demon Knights" had a fun first issue, more than enough to keep me around for a few more months to find out what happens next. The book will ultimately rise or fall on how well it balances its full cast, but for now the snippets we've seen work. It's an odd concept, but worth checking out. Read Full Review

  • 5.5
    X-Man's Comic Blog - x-man75 Sep 19, 2011

    Well, you can't say I didn't give this series a fair shot. Unfortunately, it just isn't the type of comic book I'd want to pay money to read. I know there's an audience for this sort of story/setting, but I'm not a member of that audience. I've always preferred stories set in the present or the future. The past? Not so much. With that said, I definitely won't be picking up the second issue of this series. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Crave Online - Iann Robinson Sep 15, 2011

    The art from Diogenes Neves is the real star of the issue. He does a lot with very little story, managing to take insignificant little scenes and make them pop to life with his art. There’s a definite John Romita Jr. vibe to what Neves does and it works for this kind of story. Fantasy work should have a straight comic book art feel to it and that’s what Neves nails here. I just wish he’d had more to work with as far as the story goes. At some point I might be eating crow, I might be crawling through Liger manure in order to make amends towards Demon Knights. However, based on issue #1, it’s doubtful. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    ComicList - Brandon Borzelli Sep 16, 2011

    Perhaps if you know about characters like Sir Ystin, Vandal Savage or Exoristos you will love this issue and the situations they have been put in. Or maybe you have faith that in time the plot and story will kick in and the book will really get rolling. As an added bonus, Cornell has promised that future issues will have dragons in them. But as a first issue this comic just doesn't do enough to grab my interest. It feels too much like chapter one instead of a self-contained story in its own right. Read Full Review

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